News - Local News

POSTED: Friday, Nov. 06, 2009

Sacred Heart's Potpourri of Art show marks 40th year

If you love to search for unique, homemade gifts and can't wait to start your Christmas shopping, the 40th anniversary of Sacred Heart's Potpourri of Art provides an early opportunity.

Co-chairwomen Barbara Haddad and Rhonda Daniels, art chairwoman Lynn Snell and quilt chairwoman Maureen Terich are among more than 200 volunteers from Sacred Heart Catholic Church who help stage the weekend event.

Question: How did this show become such a local tradition?

Haddad: This began as a small church bazaar and it's now the longest-running juried art show in Whatcom County. The first juried show was in 1969. More than 1,500 people attended last year.

Daniels: Jody Bergsma was in the first show, when she was a teen-ager.

Q: Is all of the art for sale?

Snell: There are 45 artists, mostly local, who will exhibit hundreds of pieces of art, all for sale and mostly at modest prices. There will be every kind of art, including oil paintings, photography, baskets, wood work, fabrics, silk screening, jewelry, pottery, natural soaps and lotions.

Q: Tell me about the show's popular "country store."

Terich: Our "country store" has grown larger and more popular every year. It's like a neat little antique store. We offer antiques and collectibles contributed by parishioners, mostly at prices from about $5 to $40, along with our Christmas corner and a large selection of homemade baked goods. There are also things like stuffed animals and books for sale.

Daniels: Everything is gently used. This is quality merchandise, not a garage sale. You can really find a lot of great items.

Q: What's happening with the raffle?

Terich: The grand prize is a wonderful, queen-size quilt made by parishioners, with colors matching the color of our stained glass in the church. We'll have five other big prizes: work by local artist James Williamson, a handmade Afghan, homemade Stations of the Cross, fly-fishing lessons, and a champagne basket.

Q: And the café?

Haddad: Our café is open the same hours as the show and it's all homemade food. You can have lunch or dinner while you're shopping, and take home a great pie.

Q: Aside from the bonanza of goodies, what makes the show special?

Haddad: The way the Sacred Heart community comes together to create this show is really inspiring. Proceeds go to a local organization that supports low-income families.

Terich: I went to my first show here in 1973 and I've been involved since 1975, and I can't say enough about what a wonderful community of people we have.

POTPOURRI OF ART

What: Sacred Heart Catholic Church's 40th anniversary "Potpourri of Art" show.

When: 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, and 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8.

Where: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1110 14th St.